Bangladesh becomes first south Asian ICC member country

Bangladesh has become the first south Asian country, and 111th in total, to ratify the founding Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the ICC said on Wednesday.

Having ratified the document on Tuesday, "the Statute will enter into force for Bangladesh on 1 June, 2010, bringing the total number of states parties to the Rome Statute to 111," the court said in a statement.

"By ratifying the Rome Statute, Bangladesh will become the first state party in South Asia," said ICC president Judge Sang-Hyun Song.

"I applaud its decision to join the growing commitment of states to end impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."

The ICC is the world's only independent, permanent court with the jurisdiction to try genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.